Cancer Vaccine Breaking News

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Mar 8, 2020 • 6:30 pm CDT

RICE UNIVERSITY ALERT – Classes canceled for the week of March 9th

During the afternoon of March 8, 2020, Rice University announced on its website 'Out of an abundance of caution and to allow faculty and staff time to prepare for possible remote instruction this semester, in-person classroom instruction and undergrad teaching labs for the week of March 9th is canceled. Rice faculty will provide material that can be completed remotely and does not require group interaction.

Additionally, Rice has banned all university-sponsored international travel for faculty, staff, postdocs, and students through April 30th. While domestic travel is not prohibited, employees should limit university-sponsored travel to only essential business purposes.

Other aspects of the Rice campus will continue in operation. Rice is located in the center of Houston, Texas, which began reporting COVID-19 disease cases in early March 2020.

As of March 8th, Harris County Public Health and Fort Bend Health asked local residents on Twitter who recently traveled to Egypt and took a Nile River cruise to immediately self-quarantine for 14 days & contact the local health department.

Currently, there are 12 confirmed or presumptive positive COVID-19 disease cases collectively among the city of Houston, unincorporated Harris County, and Fort Bend County reported local media.

Previously, on March 5, 2020, Harris County Public Health notified Rice officials that the university employee who was self-quarantined did test positive for the COVID-19 disease, which is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. The other Rice doctoral students, faculty and staff remain in self-quarantine and none has reported symptoms to date.

Houston is one of the Texas cities now conducting local testing of virus specimens.

The Texas Governor announced that the state now has the capacity to test for COVID-19 disease in 6 public health labs within Texas' Laboratory Response Network: Austin, Houston, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, and Lubbock. Governor Greg Abbott said on March 5, 2020. “The risk to Texans remains low, and I ask that communities across the state continue to heed the guidance of local, state, and federal health officials."

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Mar 8, 2020 • 5:43 pm CDT

'Avoid Cruise Ships' Says US State Department

On March 8, 2020, the US Department of State published a statement saying 'U.S. citizens, particularly travelers with underlying health conditions, should not travel by cruise ship.'

This is a fluid situation, says the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which notes that older adults with underlying health issues should avoid situations that put them at increased risk for more severe disease, such as COVID-19. Furthermore, the CDC notes there is an increased risk of infection of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that causes COVID-19 in a cruise ship environment.

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Mar 8, 2020 • 11:05 am CDT

8th Army Soldiers in Korea 'Ordered to Stop Movement'

On March 8, 2020, the US Force Korea said it is aware of the Department of the Army's order to stop the movement for all 8th Army Soldiers and family members moving to or from South Korea, or Soldiers scheduled to attend professional military education in the United States, due to COVID-19 disease concerns.

This Army's order is in effect immediately through May 6, 2020, or until further notice.

This action is related to the March 6th announcement by USFK that a Korean National employee tested positive for COVID-19, making this the seventh USFK-related personnel to be confirmed with the virus during 2020.

Overall, South Korea has reported 7,313 active cases and 50 fatalities related to the COVID-19 disease.

The USFK said it 'is analyzing the impacts this decision will have on those affected but currently only applies only to 8th Army Soldiers currently on permanent change of station orders or attending PME.'

USFK and the 8th Army will identify and work with all Soldiers and families affected. The health and welfare of our service members and their families continue to be our top priority.

USFK remains at risk level “high” peninsula-wide and is implementing all appropriate control measures to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 as a prudent measure to protect the force.

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Mar 8, 2020 • 9:46 am CDT

Italy Announced the Closures of Bars, Theaters, Schools, Etc

Italy's Presidential Decree announced from March 8th to April 3, 2020, the following closures in northern Italy:

Absolute prohibition to move from one's home for those who have been quarantined or tested positive for the virus.
Cinemas, theaters, and museums closed
Closed pubs, discos, bingo halls - Restaurant and bar activities allowed only if the manager guarantees interpersonal distance of at least one meter. In case of violation, the activity will be suspended.
Stop at sporting events and competitions - Sports activities outdoors or inside gyms, swimming pools and sports centers are allowed only on the condition that it is possible to respect the interpersonal distance of one meter.
Ceremonies and funerals suspended - Civil and religious ceremonies are suspended, including funerals.

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Mar 8, 2020 • 8:23 am CDT

University of Washington: Positivity rate of 5-7% among specimens

On March 7, 2020, @UWVirology Tweeted it 'has performed approximately 400 tests for COVIDー19. We are seeing a consistent positivity rate of 5-7% among specimens submitted to the lab.

The UW SARS-CoV-2 assay is a one-step Real-Time RT-PCR assay intended for the qualitative detection of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal swabs. Results are for the identification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. This University of Washington Department of Laboratory Medicine assay targets two distinct regions of SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent for COVID-19 disease, the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene and the E gene.

For questions about laboratory tests, test processes or to get laboratory test results, please call (206) 520-4600.

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Mar 7, 2020 • 8:09 pm CST

Italy May Quarantine 16 Million People

According to the BBC, Italy may quarantine about 16 million people in the Lombardy region and in 11 other provinces in the north and east sections of the country. The new measures, which may apply to financial center Milan and tourist hotspot Venice, could take effect on March 8, 2020, and will last until April 3rd.

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Mar 7, 2020 • 7:24 pm CST

Lab Testing in the USA = 72 Certified Labs

As of late on March 6, 2020, the Association of Public Health Laboratories announced on Twitter that 72 public health labs cover 49 states including Washington D.C, are now testing for the COVID-19 disease.

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Mar 7, 2020 • 3:59 pm CST

Stanford Moves Classes Online

On March 6, 2020, the Stanford University website posted a message from Provost Persis Drell that said 'For the final 2-weeks of the winter quarter, beginning Monday, March 9th, classes at Stanford will not meet in person. To the extent feasible, we will be moving classes to online formats in place of in-person instruction.'

'Though classes will not be meeting in person, the university will remain open.

Our existing guidance to employees remains in place. In situations where work can temporarily be performed from home or an alternate location, we encourage employees and managers to work together to identify possible telecommuting opportunities.'

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Mar 7, 2020 • 2:08 pm CST

Basketball Games Without Fans

The NBA wants its teams to prepare to play games without fans because of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus outbreak in the USA. The league circulated a memo to its teams on March 6, 2020, detailing potential actions that teams might need to take “if it were to become necessary to play a game with only essential staff present.”

NBA teams should also be prepared 'for the possibility of implementing temperature checks on players, team staff, referees, and anyone else who is essential to conducting such a game in the team’s arena.'

The league had already sent a memo to teams this week offering 10 recommendations to players with hopes of decreasing risks of getting the coronavirus.

Separately, an NCAA Division III men’s basketball tournament game on the campus of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, was played in an empty gym on March 6th, in what was believed to be the first U.S. sports event held without fans.

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Mar 7, 2020 • 11:59 am CST

Italy Introduces 'Extraordinary and Urgent' Disease Outbreak Measures

Italy's Council of Ministers approved a decree-law on March 6, 2020, which introduces extraordinary and urgent measures to counter the epidemiological emergency from the COVID-19 disease outbreak.

As of noon CT on March 7th, Italy confirmed 5,883 cases and 233 fatalities related to the COVID-19 disease.

"Last night - said the Minister of Health Roberto Speranza on March 7th - in the Council of Ministers - we approved an extraordinary plan for hiring and investing in healthcare personnel."

As for the rules on strengthening the National Health Service (Ssn), the following actions are envisaged: the recruitment of specialist doctors, to be assigned to perform specific functions; the extraordinary assignment of self-employment tasks to retired healthcare personnel; the restatement of the plans for the staff needs of the companies and of the Ssn bodies; the increase in the hours of the outpatient specialist.

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Mar 7, 2020 • 8:37 am CST

South Korea Tracks 32k Self-Quarantined People With an App

South Korean authorities announced on March 7, 2020, they are implementing a phone application for about 32,000 people placed into self-quarantine amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Starting at 1 p.m. today, civil servants will begin to send out text messages. to these people. Clicking the URL contained in the text will activate the app.

The official explained the 'app is by all means necessary to safeguard the health and safety of oneself, family members and neighbors.'

A South Korean ministry official said that 'voluntary cooperation is essential and self-quarantine is a matter of trust. The government said those who break away from isolation can be fined under the Infectious Disease Prevention Act.

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Mar 6, 2020 • 9:41 pm CST

California Cruise Ship Confirms 21 Infected Passengers

On March 6, 2020, 21 individuals (19 crew and 2 passengers) on the Grand Princess cruise ship offshore the northern California coast have tested positive for the coronavirus, reports The Hill.

Dr. Deborah Birx, who is coordinating the federal government’s response to the coronavirus outbreak, called it a 'comprehensive approach” and said federal officials were working closely with medical staff on the ship with 3,500 passengers to make sure that the elderly passengers and those with preexisting health conditions would be prioritized.'

The US government said it has worked closely with California Gov. Gavin Newsom and other state and local officials to develop the plan of action.

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Mar 6, 2020 • 11:19 am CST

South Korea Reciprocates - Suspends Visa Free Entry For Japan

On March 6, 2020, the South Korean government announced it will suspend a visa-free entry program for Japan. And, visas already issued for Japanese citizens will also become invalid.

The first foreign vice-minister, Cho Sei-yong, said at a press conference his ministry will raise the travel alert level for Japan by one notch, and call on people from South Korea to avoid unnecessary visits to Japan.

This action is related to Japan's government announcement to quarantine certain visitors from South Korea.

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Mar 6, 2020 • 4:39 am CST

Italy's President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella Offered A Message of Encouragement

On March 6, 2020, Italy's 12th President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, published a video message saying, "We are a great modern country, we have an excellent national health system that is operating effectively."

"And with the generous self-sacrifice of its staff at all professional levels. We will overcome the condition of these days."

Mattarella then expressed closeness to sick people and solidarity with the families of the victims. Italy recently reported its 148th fatality related to the COVID-19 disease.

Additionally, the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, announced the Vatican’s healthcare services have been temporarily shuttered to disinfect facilities used for outpatient services after a patient tested positive with the coronavirus.

“The Directorate of Health and Hygiene is informing the competent Italian authorities and, in the meantime, the planned health protocols have been initiated,” he added.

"Without imprudences, but without alarmism - he concluded - we can and must have confidence in the skills and resources we have. We must and can have confidence in Italy."

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